title: Prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries among factory workers in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kano is a metropolis and commercial centre in northern Nigeria; it is highly industrialized. Most of the population does factory work. Purpose. The survey was undertaken to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) and other related occupational hazards among factory workers in Kano Metropolis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred questionnaires were distributed to respondents recruited from tannery, steel rolling, textile and agrochemical factories at the 3 industrial estates of the metropolis. Only unskilled and manual labourers were considered. The respondents were selected using the nonprobability sample of convenience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 420 questionnaires were returned duly completed. Three hundred and fifty-three (84.05%) respondents were male and 67 (15.95%) were female. Their ages ranged between 21 and 58 years (M = 38.99 ± 1.01).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low back complaints had the highest prevalence (360, 85.71%), followed by upper limb injuries (171, 40.71%), shoulder complaints (156, 37.14%) and hip injuries (34, 8.10%). About 41% of the respondents reported 2 or more work-related MSIs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study uncovered that a substantial percentage of factory workers had sustained MSIs. Body ache/discomfort in the low back region was the most common injury sustained among the subjects surveyed.
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. sa2edia@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ismaila Adamu
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Saidu
authors.forename: Victor Adimabua
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Utti
authors.forename: Adeolu Olugbenga
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Jaiyesimi
authors.forename: Adamu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rufa'i
authors.forename: Stanley Monday
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Maduagwu
authors.forename: Henry Adezie
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Onuwe
authors.forename: Abdurahman Mohammed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jajere
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult